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US3598943A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Actuator assembly for toggle switch

Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
•
Filing: 1969-12-01
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-12-01
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Abstract

Abstract Actuator assembly for snap action toggle switch has a rockerlike actuator member which is pivoted on a transverse axis. A roller mounted on the actuator member is adapted to be engaged for overcenter movement of the actuator at a point spaced from the pivot axis of the actuator member by a member on the end of the toggle lever having a curved outer surface resiliently biased into engagement with the roller. By the use of a pair of curved cooperating surfaces to cause overcenter movement, at least one of which is a roller, which contact each other intermediate their respective pivot mountings, a very unstable teaseproof mounting is provided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward L Barrett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 20:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/12; H01H23/16; H01H23/168

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 223 words
In an actuator assembly for making and breaking the contacts of an electric switch having a housing, a toggle lever member pivoted in the housing and an actuator member pivoted in the housing and engageable by the toggle lever to cause the switch contacts to be moved relative to each other, the improvement comprising: pivot means mounted in said housing for supporting said actuator member, at least one roller mounted on said actuator member for rotational movement about an axis thereon spaced at a fixed distance from the axis of said pivot means for said actuator member, the axis of the roller being positioned intermediate a cooperating member for engaging the roller and the axis of the actuator member pivot means, said cooperating member being resiliently biased into engagement with said actuator member and mounted for movement on the toggle lever in the direction of the length of the toggle lever, said cooperating member having a generally conical shape terminating in a generally spherically shaped apex tip which is resiliently biased into continuous rolling engagement with said roller on said Actuator member and adapted to rock said actuator in one direction or the other as it moves past a point on said at least one roller which is in line with the axis of the roller and the axis of said pivot means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 223 words
In an actuator assembly for making and breaking the contacts of an electric switch having a housing, a toggle lever member pivoted in the housing and an actuator member pivoted in the housing and engageable by the toggle lever to cause the switch contacts to be moved relative to each other, the improvement comprising: pivot means mounted in said housing for supporting said actuator member, at least one roller mounted on said actuator member for rotational movement about an axis thereon spaced at a fixed distance from the axis of said pivot means for said actuator member, the axis of the roller being positioned intermediate a cooperating member for engaging the roller and the axis of the actuator member pivot means, said cooperating member being resiliently biased into engagement with said actuator member and mounted for movement on the toggle lever in the direction of the length of the toggle lever, said cooperating member having a generally conical shape terminating in a generally spherically shaped apex tip which is resiliently biased into continuous rolling engagement with said roller on said Actuator member and adapted to rock said actuator in one direction or the other as it moves past a point on said at least one roller which is in line with the axis of the roller and the axis of said pivot means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
An actuator assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator member comprises a rocking plate carrying a contact at at least one of its ends, said contact on said rocking plate being movable into and out of engagement with a fixed contact mounted in the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
An actuator assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said rocking plate has contacts on each of its ends adapted to be brought into alternate engagement with a pair of cooperating fixed contacts in the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
An actuator assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the rocking plane is mounted within a U-shaped bracket member having a pair of inwardly projecting spherical deformations defining pivot centers which are engaged by mating depressions formed on opposite sides of the actuator member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2633510A Cited
US2769050A Cited
US2780691A Cited
US2972663A Cited
US2961505A Cited
FR1306612A Cited
US3351729A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-08-09 1975-02-08 1975-08-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-08-09 1979-02-08 1979-08-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-08-09 1983-02-08 1983-08-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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